Yakani calls for ‘immediate peace’ in war-hit Africa as he receives continental award in Addis Ababa

JUBA – South Sudan’s prominent activist Edmund Yakani has this evening received the continental prestigious award he won for peace activism in August, and gave a key address in Addis Ababa in which he appealed for “immediate peace” across war-hit African countries of Ethiopia, DR Congo, Sudan, Libya, Mali, and South Sudan.

“I call for immediate peace in Ethiopia, DR Congo, Sudan, Libya, Mali and others including my country South Sudan. Violence never gains and as Pan-African in this space of the award, with due respect I call upon our leaders to embrace democratic governance and abolish being corrupt,” Yakani said.

“Dictatorship, poor leadership, corruption and human rights violations enslaving Africa. Our leaders don’t made us slaves in our own land. As an African, don’t turn as colonist to us (Africans) on the seat of African leadership,” he added.

The prominent activist was named as one of African activists who have won this year’s “Africa’s Outstanding Professionals Awards,” for their countries and was invited to Addis Ababa where he received the award today.

Speaking during the awarding ceremony today at Sheraton Hotel in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa this evening, Yakani thanked the organizers and expressed his happiness for the recognition of his peace and rights activism and dedicated the award to CEPO, the civil society watchdog he heads in South Sudan, journalists and media across Africa.

“Thank your excellences at your various capacities and especially the Business Executive Group, Accra Ghana and Ethiotelecom what are the sponsors of the award. It is a great honour as South Sudanese to be recognized and awarded as one of the African outstanding Professionals,” he said.

“This award is not award to me because of my own efforts but it is because of our collective efforts ranging from fellow staff of CEPO, Journalists and media in South Sudan and across the global. Allow me to urge our African leaders to sincere abstain themselves from resolving their political grievance in non-violent manner,” he said.

The activist further aid he also dedicate the award “for observation of zero discrimination against persons with disabilities and safety of Journalists in South Sudan, Africa and the global. Thanks to Light for the World for standing for the rights of persons with disabilities.”